Seas Between

Chapter 13

After the movie, the crowd dissipated. Avery and her family went home for supper and Avery changed out of her black clothes. Before supper, she was aimlessly flipping through her contacts, trying to find a guy to fake go-out-with.

Then, she saw Braden. He would be an easy enough guy to convince. He loved to be of help to anyone. Immediately, she called him.

"Hey-" Braden said.

"Hi Braden, I need your help-"

"-I'm not here right now, so make sure you leave a message after the-" The phone beeped right on cue. She started to weave her hair together, over from the right, over from the left.

"You tricked me again! Well, anyway, I need your help. I may have... I don't know, said I have a boyfriend but don't. Soooo... if you'd call me back, that's great, thanks." She hung, pulling apart the loosely made braid.

She looked through her contacts one more time but she was afraid that if she called two boys, she would be setting herself up with two dates, and that's never good.

"Supper!" Her mom called.

Getting downstairs, her parents were already at the table. She sat down next to her mom, held her hand, and lowered her head for prayer.

After the prayer, they served themselves, dishing out steaming, cheesy lasagna from the pan on the table as they talked about all the funny things that happened at Avery's house. Of course, Katrina wouldn't make mention of her 'mystery man', as Avery called him.

She knew it was wrong. She didn't have a boyfriend. In fact, she never did and maybe that's why Avery always nagged her and Alex. She just wanted Avery to stop.

After supper, her family and her went to watch tv. About halfway through a show of CSI, her phone rang, Braden.

She took the call, standing up and walking to her room. Her parents gave her a quick glance before she disappeared behind the corner of the hallway.

"Hello," Katrina smiled.

"Hello Katrina, I got your message, when do you need me?"

"You're the best! Thank you!" She said, flopping onto her bed.

"Yeah, no problem"

"I need you to meet my friend, Avery!"

"Wait, I thought I was going out with you."

"Yes, but it won't be going out. We're friends, right?"

"Right..." He said, seeming a bit sarcastic, or secretive, it was hard to tell with him.

"Braden... do you like me?"

"Uh, yeah, as a friend of course!" He said defensively.

"Sure," Katrina laughed. He laughed along, but not genuinely.

"So, when do I meet Avery, and... why?"

"Sometime tomorrow, when are you free?"

"Anytime, maybe we could do the whole day, really convince her?"

"Ha, it sounds like you're asking me out!"

"Nah, just trying to help."

"Well, sure then, she really won't bug me then. That's why I need you, Avery keeps bugging me about dating. She wants me to go out with my best friend, Alex."

"Oh, him, I remember him. I see what you mean."

"Really?"

"Yeah, my friend is doing the same thing, I guess you're solving my problem too."

"Killing two birds with one stone, nice"

"So, I'll pick you up at 9?"

"Yeah," Katrina said hastily as her dad knocked on the door.

"Ok, see you then, bye." Braden said warmly.

"Bye!" She hung up and answered her door. "Hi dad," she said like nothing happened.

"Who was that?" He smiled.

"Oh, just Braden, you don't mind if we hang out tomorrow do you?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Who else will be with you?"

"Avery"

"Yeah... okay, be back by eleven though."

"Thanks dad!" Katrina hugs the massive man. "So, what did you come in here for?"

"Ava needs some attention."

"Oh, right" Katrina said and walked around her dad to the kitchen. She pulled out a bag of dog food and started to pour it. The first piece that hit the dish alerted Ava and she came running.